192 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



headed straight across; then the floats suddenly 

 turned to the right, down-stream. The canoe- 

 men quickly changed their course. Those on 

 the right side paddled vigorously for fear that 

 the beast was charging or that he might come 

 up under the canoes and capsize them. 



"Just then his head appeared above water; 

 but when he saw the canoes he dived before 

 any one had time to throw a spear, and again 

 the floats moved down-stream at a rapid rate. 



"The second time that the hippo rose, two 

 of the spearmen hit him, and as the spears 

 sank into the flesh the great brute threw him- 

 self into the air and fell back with a mighty 

 splash. 



"The natives were now worked up to the 

 highest pitch of excitement. There seemed to 

 be no leader; every one was shouting orders, 

 and each canoe went wherever the fancy of its 

 crew took it. Whenever the hippo made a 

 sudden turn the paddlers would skilfully wheel 

 their craft and race off in another direction. 

 As a result, there were frequent collisions and 

 narrow escapes from upsetting. 



"Each time the hippo appeared they sent 

 home several more spears. He fast became 



